Rising star set to play well-known Kilkenny venue this autumn

London-based actor and singer-songwriter Niall McNamee will play Cleere's Theatre on Friday, October 24, as part of his biggest headline tour to date. Niall’s debut album will also be released in October 2025, with a run of up-front singles. 

Niall McNamee is a rapidly rising star with a modern twist on his Irish heritage. Mixing Celtic post-punk passion with a 21st Century alt-rock perspective, Niall binds it together with a little bit of trad and a vocal delivery that leaves one in no doubt that he’s an exciting new force to be reckoned with: think Shane McGowan in a writing room with Dolores O’Riordan, Chris Martin and Alex Turner.

Describing himself as ‘a romantic football fan who writes songs’, Niall moved to London at 17 years old working on building sites whilst growing a devoted fan base playing gigs in pubs and venues across London.

He began his acting career in London’s West End as Romeo in ‘Romeo and Juliet’ before moving into film and TV, starring opposite Pierce Brosnan and even having a major fight scene with Jackie Chan in ‘The Foreigner’. He took the lead in award-winning feature film ‘Love Without Walls’, for which he also wrote the original soundtrack.

A short tour in winter 2024-25 saw sold-out shows for Niall in Glasgow, Birmingham, Bury, Bristol, London and Dublin. He has previously supported Declan O’Rourke, David Keenan, Junior Brother, The Dubliners, The Wolfe Tones, and Louis Dunford, and played Isle of Wight and Cambridge Folk festival. His music has been added to 3000 Spotify playlists, with over 100,000 listeners.

This summer, Niall will play Irish world cup team goalkeeper Alan Kelly in a new feature film, ‘Saipan’. The film stars Steve Coogan and Éanna Hardwicke, chronicling Roy Keane and Mick McCarthy's very public feud before the 2002 FIFA World Cup.